In my last lecture I traced the history of gold from its earliest mention in the Bible, in the marvelous accounts of the early classic authors, and of the alchemical writers of the middle ages, down to the production of the present day.
Silver was likewise known from the most ancient historic period~ and even antedates gold as a medium of exchange. Its frequent mention in Scripture proves its familiar employment among the Jews. The shekel was a silver coin, and as it is very interesting, not only historically, but as revealing the state of coinage in the time of Simon Maccabmus, whose reign began 143 B. C., we will project its image upon the screen by means of the megascope.
On the reverse side you see the snE~L budding rod of Aaron, with the~~ 0 legend Jerushalaim ha-kedoshah in the Samaritan character, which is, translated, Jerusalem the holy. On the obverse is the pot of manna, with the words 5'hekel of oF.s~o~ ~coAn~vs.
Israel. This is one of the rarest and most remarkable coins in the mint cabinet? i Several curious old silver coins were used in illustration ; among the most interest. β’ ing were the stater, or 4 drachms of Athens, 2100 years old, showing the sacred owl. The stater of Alexander the Great, B. C. 336--323, showing the head of A. as Hercules with the lion's skin. A silver coin of Super, one of the Magian or fire worshiping kings of Persia, preceding the rise of Mohammed, A. D. 300. Denarius of Tiberius, A. D. 14-37, this was thepenny of the New Testament. A silver coin struck in the time of the Roman Emperor Vespasian, A. D. 69-79, to commemorate the destruction of Jerusalem, with a figure of a weeping woman. And, finally, proof coins of our own mint, for 1877. The slow growth of art and gradual development of mechanical improvements in coinage, were very rapidly demonstrated in this manner.